DAY OF THE DEATH VERSUS HALLOWEEN

Before start an analysis between Halloween versus the Day of the Death is
essential is necessary to examine its origins and current characteristics.

Halloween Day of the Death

The origin of our Western holiday
known as Halloween is found in the
ancient Celtic festival, Samhain that
commenced on the eve of October
31st, and ushered in the Celtic New
Year on November 1st., when the
normally strict boundaries between
the worlds of the living and the dead
became transparent, allowing the
spirits of those who have died to
return to visit earth.
The Aztec Festival of the Dead was
originally a two-month celebration
during which the fall harvest was
celebrated, and figures of “death”
were personified as well as
honored. The festival was presided
over by Mictlantecuhtli, Goddess of
the Dead and the Underworld, also
known to the Aztecs as Mictlán.

The ancient Celtic Samhain festival.

After the Roman conquest of much

of the Celts’ lands in France and
England, Samhain was affected by
Mictlantecuhtli, Goddess of the Dead and
the advent and subsequent spread the Underworld.
of Christianity. The Church
In the pre-Columbian belief system,
attempted to subsume the festival
Mictlán was not dark or macabre,
under the celebration of martyrs and
saints, which was established on the but rather a peaceful realm where
ancient Celtic new year — souls rested until the days of visiting
November 1st — and recast it as All the living. During these days of the
Saints Day (with the following day,
November 2nd as All Soul’s Day).
All Saints Day.
This festival was called All-Hallows,
while the evening before was called
All-hallows-eve — later becoming,
by contraction, our present-day
“Halloween.”
The many traditions associated with
the contemporary American holiday,
including dressing up in costume,
holding parades, playing scary
pranks and tricks on one another.
The most popular custom
dressing up on Halloween emanates
from the Celtic belief that the ghosts
of the departed along with the fairy
folk would be abroad roaming the
fields and roads near their homes
year, the souls of the departed
would return to the realm of the
living, where they could visit their
loved ones. With the arrival of the
Spanish and Christianity, the new
rulers of Mexico attempted to
marshal the celebrations dedicated
to the dead under the auspices of
All Saints Day (November 1st), and
All Souls Day (November 2nd). The
dates of these two Catholic holidays
are now celebrated in Mexico as los
Días de los Muertos.
 The spiritual conquest of Mexico.
The celebration includes an
invitation for the dead to return to
of their family home for a visit. Families
welcome them back by placing
photographs of their deceased loved
ones on altars, and may even write
and dedicate poems to them. The
celebration includes offerings of
on this night.
cempasúchil flowers, drinks and
food for the deceased placed
alongside their photographs and
poems. Another traditional practice
is the making of the bread of the
dead and the sugar, colorful
calaveras (skulls), decorated and
Ancient Halloween Costumes. labeled with names of people (living
or dead).
People began to wear masks and
other ghostly gear in order to fool
the spirits into believing they, too,
were of the spirit world. The tradition
of leaving food on doorsteps on All-
hallows-eve in many parts of Europe
in the hopes that it might prevent
wandering spirits and fairies from
Bread of the dead.
entering the house and placate
them evolved into the practice of
trick or treating.